# Sign Regulations in Guthrie, Oklahoma

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Guthrie, Oklahoma, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Guthrie, Oklahoma (OK)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/oklahoma/guthrie
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Guthrie, Oklahoma regulates 23 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Freestanding/Monument)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 ft at setback, plus 1 ft for every 6 ft behind setback up to 30 ft max tall and 100 sq ft total (can increase to 120 sq ft total), with a Min 10 ft from freeway; min 150 ft from residential, or 300 ft if over 300 sq ft area setback (Sec. § 4-173(B)(1), (E), (H), (I)). Most commercial signs in Guthrie require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | General sign height limits (not more than 50 ft near interstate, generally 30 ft) | Up to 100 sq ft (standard), up to 400 sq ft for large buildings/lots | — |
| Residential District, Residential Zoning District, PUD Designated Residential Development Area | 6 | 4 ft above grade | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District, Commercial Zones | 7 | Up to 50 feet within 1,000 ft of interstate; otherwise 30 ft max | Up to 100 sq ft normally; up to 400 sq ft for large business/lot | — |
| Industrial Zones, Industrial District | 4 | 25 ft, plus 1 ft per 6 ft behind setback up to 30 ft max | Up to 100 sq ft, up to 400 sq ft for large business/lot | — |
| Historic District | 5 | 8 ft | 36 in x 60 in (15 sq ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning | 8 feet above sidewalk | — | — | — | — | Extending over sidewalk with metal supports | — | § 4-167, § 4-168 |
| Wall Sign | No higher than eave/rafter line, min 8 ft above walkway, 15 ft above drive surface | Up to 100 sq ft (standard), up to 400 sq ft for large buildings/lots | — | For every 1 ft behind setback, add 1 sq ft to max area, up to 100 sq ft | — | On vertical surface of building | — | § 4-173(B)(2), (E) |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding/Monument) | 25 ft at setback, plus 1 ft for every 6 ft behind setback up to 30 ft max | 100 sq ft total (can increase to 120 sq ft total) | — | Min 10 ft from freeway; min 150 ft from residential, or 300 ft if over 300 sq ft area | 1 per street frontage, with additional allowed for lot layout/size as per code | At or behind setback line; min 10 ft from freeway right-of-way; min 150-300 ft from residential as per sign area | — | § 4-173(B)(1), (E), (H), (I) |
| Projecting Sign | On two-story: not above second floor sills. On one-story: not above cornice. Min 8 ft clearance above sidewalk | 40 sq ft per side, 80 sq ft total | Projects max 4 ft from building | — | — | Perpendicular/projection from building, if front within 4 ft or less of right-of-way; not allowed if ground sign used | — | § 4-169, § 4-173(B)(4) |
| Digital Sign | General sign height limits (not more than 50 ft near interstate, generally 30 ft) | — | — | — | — | Not within 50 feet of signalized intersection; not within 20 feet of street driving surface; not within 200 feet of residentially zoned districts if visible | — | § 4-172(A)(12), § 4-173(F) |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tract per street frontage | Private property, not in right-of-way, per separation requirements; not within 100 ft of another temporary sign | — | § 4-174(B) |
| Real Estate For Sale/Lease Sign (General) | 4 ft above grade | 24" x 30" (2 ft x 2.5 ft), 4 ft above grade | 24 inches | — | — | Private property with permission of owner; not more than 3 miles from property | — | § 4-174(F) |
| Political Sign (General) - Residential | — | 24" x 30" (2 ft x 2.5 ft) | — | — | — | Private property with owner permission; house side of sidewalk, or at least 15 ft from curb or outside right-of-way | — | § 4-174(D) |

### Commercial District, Commercial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than eave/rafter; min 8 ft above walkway, 15 ft above drive | Up to 100 sq ft normally; up to 400 sq ft for large business/lot | — | 1 sq ft more for every foot behind setback, up to 100 sq ft | — | On vertical building surface | — | § 4-173(B)(2), § 19-136 |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding/Monument) | 25 ft, plus 1 ft per each 6 ft behind setback up to 30 ft max | 100 sq ft total (120 sq ft total with setback) | — | Min 10 ft from freeway ROW; 150 ft from residential for <300 sq ft, 300 ft for >300 sq ft | 1 per street frontage. Additional as per size/layout. | At or behind setback. One per street frontage. | — | § 4-173(B)(1), (H)(3) |
| Projecting Sign | Two-story: not above second floor sills. One-story: not above cornice. Min 8 ft above ground. | 40 sq ft per side, 80 sq ft total | Projects up to 4 ft from building, min 2 ft from curb/road edge | Projects up to 4 ft from building, min 2 ft back of curb/edge | — | Perpendicular to building; only if no ground sign used; if within 4 ft of right-of-way; not more than 4 ft projection. Non-flashing signs only. | — | § 4-173(B)(4), § 19-136 |
| Shopping Center Project Sign | — | 2 sq ft of sign/100 sq ft of GLA | — | — | 1 per frontage. Addl for size/spacing. | Common project sign for shopping centers | — | § 4-173(D), (G)(2), (3) |
| Digital Sign | Up to 50 feet within 1,000 ft of interstate; otherwise 30 ft max | — | — | — | — | Not within 50 ft of signalized intersection; not within 20 ft of street; not within 200 ft of residential | — | § 4-173(F) |
| Political Sign - Commercial/Industrial Zones | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property with owner permission, not in public right-of-way | — | § 4-174(D)(4) |
| Temporary Public Interest Sign (Commercial) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tract per street frontage | Private property | — | § 4-174 |

### Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Neon Sign (OPEN) | — | 12 in x 25 in | 25 inches | — | 1 per address | Interior only (inside window) | — | § 4-230A(A) |
| Promotional Signage | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building (2 for corner) | Attached to building (front or side, corner lots) | — | § 4-230A(B)(1) |
| Temporary/Banner Signage | — | 2 ft x 25 ft (50 sq ft) | 25 feet | — | 1 per building | Attached to building | — | § 4-230A(B)(2),(4) |
| Freestanding Banner/Flag (Horizontal) | 8 ft | 36 in x 60 in (15 sq ft) | 60 inches | — | 1 per business | Attached to building, or on pole in sidewalk (must not impede pedestrian travel) | — | § 4-230A(C) |
| Political Sign (Historic District) | — | — | — | — | — | As allowed by guidelines | — | § 4-174(D)(2)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Guthrie

- It is unlawful to construct, modify, or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit, unless otherwise provided in the article.
- No signs shall be constructed unless they comply with all applicable ordinances and codes, including but not limited to the Electrical and Building Codes.
- Off-premises signs, including billboard signs, are prohibited.
- Signs erected in violation of the city’s building, electrical, or sign codes are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except those allowed as temporary signs.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or painted or drawn on any utility pole, curb, sidewalk, light post, hydrant, rock, bench, bridge, fence, highway marker, highway regulatory sign, or mailbox on public property are prohibited.
- Signs illuminated to such an intensity or brightness as to cause glare or impair vision are prohibited.
- Signs erected in the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs on vehicles used as an on-premises advertising sign are prohibited.
- Banner signs are prohibited except those allowed as temporary signs.
- Any sign which may interfere with the view of or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal or device, or any sign which may mislead or confuse traffic, or reduce visibility at any street intersection, is prohibited.
- Signs for businesses that are no longer operating are prohibited.
- Digital displays with images changing in less than six seconds and signs with scrolling text whose message exceeds six seconds are prohibited.
- Outdoor advertising signs, including billboards, and on fences are prohibited.
- Signs with structures larger than reasonably necessary to support the sign are prohibited.
- No sign or sign structure shall exceed a maximum permitted height of 30 feet, except as provided.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected to a height greater than the horizontal distance from such structure to the nearest other property or right-of-way.
- No sign shall be illuminated so that it interferes with the effectiveness or obscures any official traffic sign, device, or signal, imitates or may be confused with any such official traffic sign, device or signal, or has beams or rays directed on any portion of the traveled ways so as to cause glare or impair the vision of drivers.
- Illumination of signs shall not exceed 300 total foot lamberts of luminance.
- No flashing, intermittent, revolving or moving light is allowed for sign illumination except date, time, temperature, or public safety information.
- Fence signs are prohibited except as allowed for athletic fields by nonprofit organizations under specified conditions.
- No unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device may be placed upon or in view of any highway that purports to be or resembles an official traffic-control or railroad sign or device, or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic-control device.
- No commercial advertising is permitted upon any highway traffic sign, signal or device.
- No person shall erect, place or maintain any signs or advertising matter of any description whatsoever on the sidewalks, curbs, parkings or streets and alleys of the city, except advertisements on traffic signals in compliance with the State Traveler Information Logo Signing Act.

## Signs exempt from permit in Guthrie

- Tablets built into the wall of a building or other structure and used for inscriptions, memorial tablets, or for similar purposes.
- Legal notices.
- All signs not visible from off the property.
- Signs on vehicles or trailers, provided they are not used or intended to be used as on-premises signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs not specifically exempted shall comply with the provisions of the sign chapter and all other applicable city regulations.
- Unless otherwise provided, a sign permit is required to construct, modify, or relocate any sign.
- Temporary signs do not require a sign permit but must be registered with the Planning Department prior to use or display.
- Subdivision directional signs may be erected for a maximum of one year unless additional one-year approval is given by the Board of Adjustment. A maximum of two one-year approvals is permitted by the Board of Adjustment.
- Signs in the Historic District may require review and approval of the Commission (e.g., neon signs, political signs).
- No sign permitted as a business sign shall be changed to an outdoor advertising sign.
- All signs must comply with the Sign Code, including any permitting requirements.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Guthrie — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Guthrie+OK&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-guthrie

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